Guidelines & Policy

The Department of the Premier and Cabinet's Energy Resources Division provides policy documents and guidelines to assist companies in understanding processes and requirements to ensure compliance with the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000.

Guidelines

Onshore exploration is administered under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 and the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Regulations 2013.

The area to which this Act applies covers all onshore South Australia exclusive of Commonwealth lands: it extends south to the State territorial Sea Baseline* and includes the waters of Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent.

Onshore production is administered under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 and the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Regulations 2013.

The area to which this Act applies covers all of onshore South Australia exclusive of Commonwealth lands; it extends south to the State territorial Sea Baseline* and includes the waters of Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent.

Guideline for Operator Classification (PDF 103KB) This Guideline is used by the Energy Resources Division to assess whether a licensee is able to be granted low level surveillance classification. The Energy Resources Division will consider a number of factors, including the operator assessment factors detailed under Regulation 16 of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Regulations 2013.

In south Australia, the construction and operation of transmission pipelines and associated facilities are regulated by the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 and the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Regulations 2013.

Any pipeline proponent is required to seek a Preliminary Survey Licence to conduct surveys to establish likely routes, and to perform initial geotechnical, ecological and heritage surveys to confirm the suitability of the pipeline alignment.

Whilst not developed by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC), this document details the potential impacts on landowners as a result of the construction and operation of the Naracoorte lateral pipeline. SEA Gas provided this booklet to landowners with the notice of entry as per Part 10 of the then Petroleum Act 2000. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet suggests that licensees consider a similar approach for new pipeline projects.

Well Naming

The naming of wells must conform to conventions agreed by the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) and Geoscience Australia in 1996.

Well Abandonment

When abandoning wells the Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO) must be complied with. This document provides a guide to complying with the SEO when abandoning wells in the Cooper Basin.

Under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 (the Act)licence holders are required to submit various data and reports to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Guidelines are provided to ensure that data and reports comply with the requirements under the Act.

In addition to the guidelines provided here, liaison between company staff and Energy Resources Division personnel is encouraged to facilitate effective and efficient information submission.

Geophysical Data

Regulation 37 of the Act requires the holder of a petroleum licence to submit to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet geophysical data collected during exploration and development activities. This includes all field recordings and supporting documentation necessary to allow future explorers to reprocess the original data and all processed data, which should allow future explorers to reinterpret the original data.

In addition to the submission of geophysical data, licensees are required to submit a geophysical report.The submission of any geophysical data should coincide with the submission of the geophysical operations report which discusses the acquisition of the data.

Geophysical Reports

Regulations 34, 35 and 36 of the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 requires that the following reports are submitted to the Minister: * Geophysical progress reports* Geophysical operations reports* Geophysical interpretation reports

Such reports must be submitted in both hardcopy form and in digital form.

Exploration companies in South Australia are required by law to provide representative samples of any core and/or cuttings taken during tenure.

Guidelines for the Submission of Core and Cutting Samples (PDF 146KB)This document includes guidelines on the specifications for containers and labeling requirements.Petroleum core and cuttings submissions must be forwarded to the Energy Resources Division accompanied by a submission form.

Policy Documents

A 10-year moratorium on fracture stimulation (also known as “hydraulic fracturing”, or “fracking”) for the production of gas has been introduced in the Limestone Coast region of South East South Australia.

As of 30 March 2018, the moratorium will be in place in the following local council areas defined as comprising the Limestone Coast region.

Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) RenewalsPEL licence renewal will be considered a right earned by licensees who fulfill the initial five year work program. This policy outlines requirements that need to be met for licence renewal.

Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) SuspensionsPELs may be suspended with the agreement of the licensee and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. This document outlines the circumstances under which suspensions may be agreed by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.